The Great Integrated Household Survey (GEIH) started in 2006, replacing the Continuous Household Survey and integrating modules from the Quality of Life Survey. Data collection occurred throughout the year. Individual questionnaires for each quarter covered core topics of housing, household demographics, income, and employment. Other topics covered in 2010 were fertility, mass media, rice consumption, child labor, access to justice, rural employment, and perceptions of various services.

The survey covered 24 major cities and rural areas. The survey did not cover old national territories (the departments of Amazonas, Arauca, Casanare, Guainía, Guaviare, Putumayo, Vaupés, and Vichada), which are equivalent to approximately 4% of the population.